Health and Safety

Workers' Compensation

Federal employees have the right to a workplace free from recognized hazards [29 CFR 1960.8(a)]. When employees get hurt or become ill as a result of their job exposures, they are entitled to workers' compensation benefits, including medical care, wage loss replacement, and vocational rehabilitation, among others.

Federal employees also have responsibilities—reporting injuries and illnesses, filing claims for compensation in a timely manner, and returning to work when medically cleared.

Many of these rights and responsibilities are not communicated to TSA employees, and if they are, the information is often wrong or misguided. Sometimes employees are denied the right to file, transmittal of their claims is delayed, claims are controverted, and employees are forced to return to work too soon for fear of losing their jobs.

To help you protect your rights—and your health and safety—AFGE is providing the following information:

Forms you need to file a workers' compensation claim

CA -1: Federal Employee's Notice of Traumatic Injury and Claim for Continuation of Pay/Compensation
CA-2: Notice of Occupational Disease and Claim for Compensation
CA-2a: Notice of Recurrence
CA-7: Claim for Compensation
CA-7a: Time Analysis Form
CA-7b: Leave Buy Back (LBB) Worksheet/Certification and Election
CA-16: Authorization for Examination And/Or Treatment
CA-17: Duty Status Report
CA-20: Attending Physician's Report
CA-35: Evidence Required in Support of a Claim for Occupational Disease

OWCP Resources

What a Federal Employee Should Do When Injured at Work: Provides basic guidance on filing a claim.
Injury Compensation for Federal Employees Publication CA-810: This handbook is for agency personnel and covers the compensation process and requirements. It is helpful for union representatives helping members with claims.
ECOMP: Injured employees with existing claims can submit documents electronically through ECOMP. Some agencies are also using ECOMP for employees to initiate claims.
Claimant Query System (CQS): CQS provides information on case status, accepted medical conditions, and compensation payments. Due to security concerns, registration on OWCP Connect is required to access CQS.

AFGE Booklets

For all AFGE member: ou Have a Right to Workers' Comp for Job-Related Injuries and Illnesses: This 4-page booklet describes your rights and responsibilities under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA)
TSA Employees: You Have a Right to Workers Comp for Job-Related Injuries and Illnesses: This version of the 4-pager is specifically for TSA employees

Radiation Exposure

In July 2010, AFGE Health and Safety Specialist Milly Rodríguez testified on behalf of AFGE before the House Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service and the District of Columbia. While she testified on health and safety issues in the entire federal government, Rodríguez specifically discussed workplace exposure to ionizing radiation at TSA—which has been an issue since the agency's inception. TSA has held the position that there is no harmful exposure from radiation emissions from the X-ray machines used to view the contents of checked baggage as well as carry-on baggage. AFGE offered to conduct an independent study of radiation emissions, but TSA declined the offer. AFGE also offered to fund the purchase of dosimeters (which measure exposure to radiation) but TSA said TSOs are not allowed to wear dosimeters not issued by TSA, even though they refuse to provide them. TSA's position is that the agency has done the necessary testing and is not required by any applicable standards to issue dosimeters to its employees.

We know TSOs continue to be concerned about radiation. The lack of information, the agency's refusal to provide dosimeters, and the unsafe work practices TSOs implemented by TSA, contribute to TSOs' fears about radiation and its health effects. This year, AFGE locals in Boston and San Juan raised concerns about cancer deaths and diagnosis of thyroid conditions that appeared to be higher than expected. Their actions lead to studies by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and while the studies did not find excess cancers that could be attributed to radiation exposure, TSOs are still concerned about the effects of long-term exposures.